Fallingstar22-Thanks, I had the toughest time in trying to figure out on how to get Tenaya to believe Dillon. In the end, I resorted to a similar scenario to what really happened in 'Key to the Past'. But I think it worked in the end, thanks for reading.
Craftygirl11-Yup =) you guessed it as you'll see later in this chapter as well. Once again, thanks for reading.
Son of Whitebeard-So you went back and read chapter 2? Well if you did read chapter 13 or not, regardless I have no plans on Dillon dying, or do I? ;) Thanks for reading.
AN: Everyone I like to say again, thanks for reading. Power Rangers does not belong to me, it belongs to Saban. Sorry for the huge wait, after what? Like a year or so, more than that.
Chapter 14: A Helping Hand
By Screech04
(Venjix Palace)
"General Shifter has a project of his own, Tenaya 7 is gone. Kilobyte, I am appointing you to lead my armies to victory," Venjix walked over and looked down at him.
"Wait wait, what about me? I have seniority," Crunch stumbled over his feet in trying to get his master's attention.
"Please be serious," Kilobyte briefly glanced over at him, then bowed to Venjix, "You won't regret it."
"Wanna bet?" they all turned and saw Tenaya march into the chamber.
"Well look who's back?" Kilobyte narrowed his eyes and growled under his breath, he was sure that Tenaya 7 wouldn't survive when he blew up that catwalk at the steel mill. Seeing her standing there with hands on her hips and smug smile on her face only ignited the fury inside of him, he should have made sure she was destroyed and cursed himself for not double checking his work.
"Tenaya 7, you have returned?" Venjix's tone of voice even suggested that he was surprised at her return.
"Indeed I have Master Venjix, and I think I have something you would enjoy," she replied back.
"Oh really?" Venjix's red eyes glowed bright in curiosity.
"I've managed to gain something that none of you probably never would have been able to get," Tenaya smirked as she looked between Venjix, Kilobyte, and Crunch.
"Oh do tell," Kilobyte remarked with a hint of sarcasm in his voice.
"The trust of one of the Rangers," she continued, and smiled at each of the robots' raised looks. "Specifically my brother, the Black Ranger's. He's been so driven to try and find me all this time. I think that he can be persuaded to join our cause, without even having to use the virus to do so. Once he is with us, all the others will follow soon behind in time. Ranger Yellow holds a soft spot for him, and the clown for a Green Ranger trusts him a lot. Blue will be difficult, but possible. The Gold and Silver ones are too insane to have any real value, they'll have to be destroyed. The most difficult will be of course Ranger Red, but soon in time you will have all the Rangers under your control."
"Gaining their trust could lead to their downfall," Venjix pondered the notion, "Very well Tenaya 7. Your suggestion will be the back-up plan to fall in incase this attack does not work."
"Attack?" she raised an eyebrow.
"General Shifter believes now is the perfect time to test my new body against the Power Rangers. He is now developing a device that will allow me to control their weapons and use them against the Rangers." At the statement, Shifter reentered into the main chamber.
"Master I have it." Shifter held up to what appeared to be a windup key, "With this you'll be able to control their Zords, just as I said."
"Excellent, General Shifter you will go with me to the city to monitor this body's systems. Kilobyte, you will lead a charge of Grinders in ensuring the pathetic military soldiers stay out of my way."
"Of course." Kilobyte bowed again, glaring with one eye at Tenaya before leaving the chamber.
"So what if trying to take control of their Zords doesn't work?" Tenaya asked Shifter.
"Simple, the Hyper Bot that Master Venjix is using for his body will grow stronger over time. The longer it stays active in battle, the more damage it takes then the more stronger it will get until…" Shifter trailed off.
"Until finally, the Rangers will succumb to my power and be destroyed. Come General, we leave for the city at once." Venjix finished.
"What about me?" Crunch pouted in a tone that he felt he was being left out.
"You? You will wait here." Venjix retorted back and motioned for Shifter to come along beside him.
"Probably didn't want you messing up his big attack." Tenaya chuckled at Crunch's misery and watched as the robot disappeared out of sight. She waited for a few minutes before all the robot generals were gone alongside Venjix. "Okay time to get to work." Tenaya nodded to herself and headed down to the palace's server room. Typing in the pass codes to gain access to the servers, she scrolled through the pages in trying to dig up any information on the past life that she and her brother may have had before the Venjix attacks. In truth when she told Venjix her idea of gaining her brother's trust and using it defeat the other Rangers, she had no intention of going through with it. In any other time or place the idea would be perfect, but now Tenaya simply passed it along to get Venjix off her back and plus get a chance to see Kilobyte shake with rage and jealously.
Tenaya kept searching through page after page of data, not finding on what she was looking for. All she found was old news articles detailing Venjix attacks and others warning of impending attacks in the near future. Digging further, she found lists of prisoners and refugees that were scheduled to either be terminated as they had no use or were set to be shaped into hybrids. "There's nothing here." She grumbled, pausing a bit when an image of her younger self standing next to her brother appeared on the screen.
"Hey what are you doing?" Crunch's voice distracted her. She pressed a random link on the screen and looked up and saw Crunch walk up.
"Passing the time." She remarked back.
"Hey isn't that the designs for Shifter's Hyper Bot?" Crunch peered over her.
"Why yes it is." Tenaya gave a sigh of relief when she looked over and saw the random link push on the computer had brought up the designs for Shifter's bot that Venjix was using for his new body.
"I wonder on how the master is doing anyway." He stated.
"Well why don't you go find out?" Tenaya suggested. "I'm sure he could use extra help against the Rangers."
"Oh that sounds like a great idea." Crunch laughed as he turned and walked off. Tenaya waited until he left then turned her attention back to the computer screen which still had the designs on display.
"Maybe this could come in handy." She said to herself bringing out a USB drive and plugged it into the computer, downloading all the design data for Shifter's bot. Once the task was done, a more important one had to be started; giving it to someone who would find it useful.
(The Garage)
All four of the Ranger vehicles pulled into the garage. They had been searching all over the dome over the past two days for Dillon's sister Tenaya, who had disappeared after the whole confrontation at the steel mill. Dillon in particular had been getting increasingly desperate and impatient in the search, and was on a short fuse with others at times. He would say something rude or tell Scott and Flynn, that they weren't searching hard enough. He'd tell Summer to not bother him at times, and once he had made Ziggy upset. Dillon flat out told the Green Ranger that he should have already found Tenaya by now if he wasn't busy making shadow puppets, or trying to get Dr. K to say his real name.
"No luck." Summer looked over at Flynn.
"Aye, searched up and down all over Saint Clair Heights." Flynn shook his head, going up to the computer console and updated where he searched.
"Same here, the industrial district was a no go." Summer replied back.
"We searched all around the racetrack, vendor market streets, and neighborhoods around there, nothing." Ziggy motioned to himself and Scott.
"Doc K has had the twins on the lookout from the air, but they haven't reported in yet." Scott joined up with the others.
"Statistically you all have better chances of being bitten by sharks than finding Ranger Black's sister. She might not be within the dome." Dr. K reported then walked off with Ziggy following her in trying to get her attention.
"The lass has proven to be a clever girl, if she doesn't want to be found than she'll make sure she can't be found." Flynn went over to join the others sitting at the table.
"Is anyone going to tell Dillon?" Summer looked at the others.
"And get another mouthful from Mr. Personality, no thanks." Flynn shook his head. The group turned their heads to the remaining Ranger who had not yet exited his vehicle. Dillon just sat there staring straight ahead of him while the music of the pocket watch kept playing.
"Dr. K, can you stop for a minute and listen?" Ziggy pleaded as he followed Dr. K around the garage.
"I'm sorry Ranger Green, but the very notion that you would be able to defeat Venjix single handedly would be statistically and logically impossible." Dr. K remarked back.
"But let's say hypothetically I defeated Venjix on my own." Ziggy started,
"Which is impossible," she interrupted.
"Which is why I said hypothetically. If I hypothetically managed to defeat Venjix on my own, would you finally acknowledge me by my first name?" he asked. Dr. K seemed to ponder the question for a minute before turning back to him.
"Maybe." She replied back.
"Well then, I'm going to defeat Venjix. That's a promise." Ziggy smiled.
"Promises aren't worth making if you have no chance of keeping them Ranger Green, and I know for a fact that promise is one you can't keep." she turned and walked back to her lab. Ziggy shrugged his shoulders and rejoined the others at the table.
Dillon continued to listen to the music play on the pocket watch, closing his eyes as he let the melody take away most of his worries and fears away as it brought a peaceful calm to him. Blurred visions of past memories flashed in his mind, familiar settings and people he saw or met before. The melody continued playing as a more colorful image appeared in his head. Opening his eyes, Dillon saw he was no longer sitting inside of the Fury, but inside the center of a town or city that was definitely not Corinth. Looking around him, he saw multiple small convenience stores such as a grocery stand and a records store. A water tower stood in the distance away from him. The people paid Dillon no mind as they walked past him, it was as if he was never there.
"Hey." Dillon called out to the people, but they kept on walking as if they hadn't heard him. Irritation started to set in as he reached out to grab and stop one of the passing civilians, only for his hand to go completely through the man. Dillon's vision started to go blurry before clearing up again and he saw himself standing in a backyard of a home that contained a big tree with a tree house built in it, it was his home. Just beyond the tree, voices of two people could be heard coming from the back of the house behind him. Dillon's eyes widened when he saw who first emerged out of the back of the house.
"That's me." He stated softly, as he watched himself step down the backdoor steps of the house and onto the lawn. His facial features were softer then the ones Dillon had now, he looked almost nice and friendly. Another voice calling out to him to wait up, he didn't know who it was until a white-tipped cane came out. Dillon couldn't almost bear to look as he saw his sister enter into the backyard, her walking cane moving and searching of where it was safe to walk. Like his younger and more softer looking self, apart from being blind, she looked more soft and innocent than the hardened killer hybrid that Venjix brainwashed her to be. Dillon grasped his left arm when it began to shake uncomfortably, his vision went dark for a minute and lit up. He was back in the garage again and Summer was grasping his arm and calling out his name.
"Are you okay?" she asked worried.
"Yeah I'm fine, what happened?" he replied back while bringing a hand to his forehead then shaking his head.
"Well you were walking around talking to yourself buddy," Ziggy jumped in, also with a concerned look on his face, "It was really kind of freaky, like you were lost in your own little world." The alarms blared throughout the garage, instantly making the Ranger Operators head straight to Dr. K's lab.
"What do we have Doctor?" Scott looked over to the team's mentor, as she was sitting at her console.
"A new Venjix attack bot has entered the city, heading towards downtown. I want you all to be cautious with this one," Dr. K replied back, fingers typing furiously on the keyboard.
"Right, let's go!" Scott shouted to the others, they all nodded and ran to their respective vehicles.
(Corinth City, Downtown)
"Pathetic humans, your weapons are no match for me!" Venjix announced, advancing forward as the city's soldiers fell back. Their blasters were having little effect on the Generation 16 Hyper Bot that served as Venjix's body. He swung one of his arms, sending a jeep flying towards the soldiers.
"Look out!" One of the soldiers yelled, as they dived out of the way as the jeep came crashing down. Venjix then fired his eye beams at the retreating soldiers' backs.
"I don't know what you are, but you are one ugly attack bot." a voice caught the robot's attention. He turned around and saw all seven Power Rangers already morphed, and started cackling.
"Silly Rangers, do you think you have a chance against me now."
"That voice…" Summer gasped, staring straight into the face of the hyper bot. "That's not one of Venjix's attack bots, that is Venjix!"
"Correct, and I am here to finish what I started!" Venjix stated, launching his eye beams right at the Rangers. They rolled out of the way of the attack and leapt towards him, Nitro Swords and Cloud Hatchets at the ready. He held his arms up to counter the strikes coming at him from above and to the sides.
Ranger Red stood up in front of Venjix, looking back and forth to the others. "Surround him, he can't face us all when we're spread apart."
"Roger that Red," Yellow confirmed as Blue followed her to Venjix's right side. Gold and Silver took the robot's left side, while Green and Black move in to attack from the back. They all rushed in swinging their weapons at whatever parts of Venjix's body that he couldn't protect with his arms. Silver swung wide catching the robot along the shoulder, then jumped back to dodge the arm coming her way. Gold leapt forward as the arm flew past, slicing his weapon down the side of Venjix's face. The evil leader let out a growl, taking a few steps back. "Now!" The five primary Rangers switched their weapons to blaster mode and unloaded on their foe.
Laser blasts hit all over Venjix's body, and he growled as anger began to grow within him, "You think you can defeat me? I am Venjix, I am invincible!" he drove both of his arms into the ground, sending a shockwave that sent all the Rangers flying back. Venjix cackled with glee, "Let me show all of you a taste of my power." Opening his mouth, fire balls were launched out of it. There were yells of pain as the projectiles hit their mark. "Give up yet Rangers?"
"Not even for a minute, RPM Enforcer!" the five main Rangers put their weapons together, with Scott placing his engine cell into the slot. "Engine cell activate, fire!" The beam fired out of the weapon, hitting the robot leader in the chest. Venjix was knocked off his feet, rolling back into an overturned semi truck. He slowly pushed himself back onto his feet, stumbling forwards as there was a scorched hole of where the chest piece once was. Burning cables and wires hanged loosely out of the gaping hole, the occasional sparks shooting of it along from other parts of the body such as shoulders and legs.
"I don't believe it, no attack bot has managed to survive that." Flynn exclaimed, the tone in voice showing his surprise.
"You got lucky Rangers," Venjix looked towards Shifter who had came out from his hiding spot, "Begin the download, now!"
"Yes, right away Master Venjix." Shifter nodded, holding a remote device and pressing a button on it. He watched as his master glowed a bright yellow before increasing in size. Venjix gave a defiant roar, unleashing his eye beams on nearby buildings. Glass, bricks, concrete, rebar, and other debris came showering to the ground as the energy beams tore through the buildings as easily as a reciprocating saw would cut through wood. Scott pulled out his morpher.
"Doc, we're going to need the Zords."
"No can do Red, apart from Black and Green's, your Zords haven't been fully repaired from the last encounter. I can give you the next best thing though." she replied back, a few seconds later the Paleozord came rolling in front of Ranger Red.
"It's better than nothing, hopefully it will be enough." he closed the call, then jumped into the cockpit, "PaleoMax Megazord!" The two giants circled each other, watching for any movements from the other before charging and engaging into a grapple. The two traded blows, with Venjix swinging his arms across his foe while the Scott returned with combination of punches back at the robot overlord. The PaleoMax got in a lucky shot, upper cutting Venjix in the chin. Scott smiled, watching his longtime nemesis fall onto his back. "How'd you like that?" he taunted.
"Do it now Shifter!" Venjix shouted, rolling over and pushing himself back onto his feet.
"Right away Master Venjix." General Shifter replied, holding up the trump card that would give his master an edge; a specially designed control module that embedded extra power in the form of a wind-up key. Placing it into a slot in the palm of his hand, Shifter shot the key out and into the back of Venjix's body. Streaks of energy traveled all over Venjix, increasing the robot leader's power. Venjix opened his mouth, as a crimson spiral beam shot out and knocked the PaleoMax back.
"Ow, what was that?" Scott asked, struggling to keep the Megazord on its feet.
"Just a taste of my power, now try this!" Venjix answered back, glee filled the tone of his voice. Green cables emerged out of his body and ensnared the PaleoMax.
"What is this?" Ranger Red fought to keep the cables from coiling around him as they entangled themselves into the cockpit of the Megazord, taking over the controls.
"Your Megazord is mine now Ranger!" Venjix responded, watching as his opponent was tossed out of the cockpit and onto the street below.
Dillon looked over at Ziggy, "Looks like we're next," he held up his Wolf Cruiser engine cell while Ziggy brought up his Tail Spinner engine cell and nodded to his friend. "Let's do this." They set out their Zords along with the Croc Carrier to form the ValveMax Megazord. Venjix turned his attention to his next opponent and fired his eye beams. "Lock on target, fire!" The ValveMax strafed to the side, returning fire with the Wolf Cruiser blaster on its right arm. Neither could get a perfect hit on their target, either barely missing or scraping the sides.
"Look out behind you." Summer's voice yelled into their cockpit. The ValveMax couldn't turn in time as the PaleoMax tackled it from behind.
"What's going on, why is it attacking us?" Ziggy panicked as he watched the PaleoMax pummel their MegaZord.
"Venjix has somehow gotten control of the PaleoMax, I'm going to try and sever the connection through the city's broadcasting network." Dr. K's voice came into their cockpit.
"Do whatever you need to do Doc, but make it fast," Dillon replied back, holding as he felt the PaleoMax step down hard on the Wolf Cruiser, "I don't think we're going to last."
(Dr. K's Lab)
"Why isn't this working?" Dr. K resisted the urge to pull out her own hair. Twice already she had made attempts to use Corinth's broadcasting network to disrupt Venjix's control over the PaleoMax Megazord, "If I knew a little more about Venjix's new body, then maybe I can do something." She typed rapidly into the keyboard, her efforts at keeping up with the virus's control of the Megazord constantly getting out of her reach. In frustration, Dr. K hit her keyboard as another failed attempt to regain control ended short.
"Doc, our energy levels are low." Ranger Black's voice came along with the sounds of metal clashing against metal in the background.
"Dr. K, we need the High Octane and the Mach Megazords now!" Ranger Red's voice shouted next.
"Negative Red, repairs aren't complete yet," she replied, "If only I knew how that thing worked."
"Maybe this will help," a familiar voice came to the doctor's ears as she looked up at the new arrival to her lab, a USB drive in their hand.
(Downtown)
"We aren't going to last much longer." Ziggy shouted, feeling the full force of the PaleoMax picking up the ValveMax and dragging it across the sides of buildings.
"Hang on Ziggy!" Dillon yelled, as their Megazord was picked up and thrown through the middle of a skyscraper, leaving a giant sized hole in it, "That's going to hurt." he grumbled, moving the controls to get the Megazord back on its feet.
"Rangers, I'm down morphing High Octane and Mach Megazords, stand by." Dr. K's voice came through.
"But you said they weren't finished being repaired." Flynn interrupted.
"Well it seems good fortune is coming your way and a surprise as well," she replied back, and it sounded like their was a bit of cheer in the good doctor's voice. On the other side of the building the PaleoMax suddenly stopped moving while Venjix moved forward towards it.
"Shifter, why have I lost connection with the Megazord?" the angry leader asked his general.
"I'm not sure, something has jammed our signal." Shifter replied back.
"Well fix it, or I'll…" Venjix grunted as he felt a flurry of lasers and missiles impacting into his back. He turned around, only to find the High Octane Megazord come speeding towards him. The Megazord slashed the robot leader across the chest, before severing the wind-up key modules on the robot's shoulders. The PaleoMax was moving on its own again, rushing forward and charged up energy in one of its arms before punching the villain in the abdomen. Off the side, the Mach Megazord was helping the ValveMax stand up right and the two walked back to where others were. Venjix now found himself surrounded by all four Megazords.
"Rangers, are all you ready for a surprise?" Dr. K asked.
"Lay it on us Doc." Dillon returned back.
"Stand by for a new coding for Ultrazord configuration." she confirmed back.
"Roger that, activate Ultrazord." Scott initiated the process by pressing a few buttons on his wheel controller and pulling a lever. All the Megazords split into the individuals Zords that made them up before coming together again into a new combination. "RPM Ultrazord!"
"This is not possible!" Venjix roared, taking a few steps back as the new Megazord started to advance on him. He charged forward, striking at any possible spot to weaken the machine, but nothing seemed to work as the Ultrazord slammed one its fists into his face. Venjix fell back as sparks shot out of his body, getting for a second charge only to receive a high kick to his head.
"Let's finish this!" Scott motioned, looking to the others and they nodded their agreement, "Engage wheel blasters, combine weapons, lock and loaded. Fire!" The full fury of the RPM Ultrazord was launched as the machine glowed a bright orange and charged towards Venjix. Going through their nemesis, the Rangers turned back to watch as sparks shot out in different directions from Venjix's body.
"I am Venjix…I am immortal!" Venjix let out a defiant cry as his body started to crumble apart, pieces falling off before dropping back into a fiery explosion.
(The Garage)
All seven members of Project Ranger came waltzing back into their home, reveling not only in their victory over Venjix, but also the addition of the RPM Ultrazord. Ziggy would go on if any chicks would notice him now, which Dillon would brush off with a slap on the back of Ziggy's head. Gem and Gemma were going on about the big boom that Venjix made when he blew up. Flynn to the amusement of others, stated he wanted a smoothie. Summer wanted to get back and take a nice relaxing bath. While Scott, he just wanted to get back and feel content that he survived another day. Dr. K came walking out of her lab, happy that her team was so excited for their victory. She cleared her throat, and they quieted down and focused their attention on her.
"I feel some congratulations are in order," she smiled at each of them, "to all of you, for dedicating your lives to protect this city. It could have been done without each and everyone of you."
"Thank you doctor, for believing in us." Summer returned with a smile of her own.
"That new Ultrazord made it ultra boom time." Gemma stated, giving a high five to Gem.
"One thing though Doc," Dillon stated, "How'd you make the new combination work?"
Dr. K smiled at Dillon's question, "I had help," she turned and looked towards the entrance to her lab. To everyone's complete surprise and astonishment, Tenaya emerged and gave a small wave to each of the seven Rangers. Each of them came forward, greeting her with smiles, pats, and hugs. But the biggest hug came from Tenaya's brother. The two held the hug, before letting go and allowing her to chat with the others. Summer and Gemma pulled Tenaya to the side, discussing of taking her for a girl's day out. Flynn already got to work in prepping with one of his delicious smoothies for her to try out.
From the distance while enjoying his own beverage, he watched as Tenaya was playing a game of pool with Scott. Ziggy and Flynn came walking up to him, "You know, when she's not pounding us into the pavement, she's actually kind of a hottie." The Green Ranger blurted, not fully realizing on who he was talking to. Flynn's eyes widened with a shocked look, while Dillon only rolled his.
"Hey, that's my sister you're talking about."
"Of course, a sister to you is like a sister to me…even though she is a babe." he replied back.
"You do know you're digging yourself your own grave there, right?" Flynn tossed over.
"I know I know. I'm just saying if Doc K never comes around, it's nice to know there are others around." Ziggy finished, once again not fully grasping on what he was saying or who he was saying it to.
Dillon just shook his head and took another drink from his smoothie. "Keep dreaming buddy."
Well like I said, a long hiatus happened from between the last chapter and this one. Just a lot of things kept happening in my life, mostly real life stuff. I briefly thought on making this chapter the finale of the story, and a sequel story would come soon, but thought against it. Anyways I hope to get back into writing for this story again, and will have some new chapters up soon. Tell me what you thought of this, and once again…thanks for reading :)
